Liverpool - Manchester City: Report and action as it happened

Liverpool - Chelsea live

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City: Full time report

It is back to the drawing board for Pep Guardiola as his potent Manchester City had no response to and energetic and exciting Liverpool side on New Years Eve. Georginio Wijnaldum opened the scoring after eight minutes and that is all it would take to clinch all three points home on the final day of 2016.

Manchester City did make an effort to break down Liverpool during the opening exchanges of the second half but these efforts were tempered not just with a resolute defence but the threat of a lethal counter-attack too. City had to be alert on every frontier. 

Liverpool actually had all of the better chances too despite what may be written about how close the game was. Silva tried an effort from outside the box but other than that, City were tied up from the returning Aguero, who was very quiet, to De Bruyne, Silva and Sterling, who tried but could not influence proceedings. 

Liverpool remain in second and just six points behind Chelsea while City could be overtaken and drop to fifth if Arsenal and Spurs win tomorrow. Happy New Year to one and all!

FT: That's it! 1-0 to Liverpool thanks to an early Wijnaldum header.

We have a slight delay here as a blue smoke bomb is thrown onto the field. Just prolonging the inevitable at this point.

Min 90 + 4 | Origi pressures Otamendi into handling the ball under pressure, then he kicks the resulting free off Navas for a corner. Time wasting clinic on display here.

90 + 2 | Wijnaldum with some good defending now as he ushers the ball over the goalline even though he was pressured all the way by De Bruyne. Strong and still has plenty of energy in the tank.

90 | We have four minutes of added time. 

Liverpool substitution - Sadio Mane has kicked his last football of 2016 as he is replaced by Lucas Leiva.

Manchester City substitution - Iheanacho comes on for Yaya Toure, who was overrun for much of the game.

Min 87 | Lallana with the work of a veteran there as he uses his body to put Silva off balance without actually fouling the Spanish midfielder.

Min 85 | Nothing really of note happening as neither team creating chances and nobody holding possession long enough to do anything with it either. It has grown sloppy but Liverpool still good value for their lead.

Man City Substitution | Zabaleta runs off and is replaced by Jesus Navas.

Min 79 | Kolarov fouls Milner as he can't get out of the way when he goes to pass him out.

75 Minute Update | City promised a lively second half for a few minutes but never really followed through and Mignolet remains to be properly tested. If anything, Liverpool look more like scoring and seem more urgent in everything they have been doing. Klopp rejigged his tactics with the departure of Henderson and dropped Lallana back into midfield. He has been everywhere since, playmaking from deep. City, and Pep, need to make a change in urgency and personnel respectively if they want even a point from this game.

Min 74 | Emre Can cuts Aguero down and receives a booking for his trouble.

Min 72 | Liverpool back on the front foot here as they start to apply pressure on City through Lallana's excellent workrate and Origi as a targetman. Despite City coming into the game, they still have not really tested Mignolet.

Min 70 | Lallana puts Origi through and he wins a corner. It was the best he could hope for confronted by three City defenders.

Min 68 | Liverpool want a throw but Sterling managed to keep it in and start an attack. He overruns the ball though and it goes out for a goalkick at the second attempt.

Min 66 | Mane has two men either side of him but he opts for Firmino out wide and Origi is free in the middle. The Brazilian looks to have been fouled but the referee doesn't give it. It really should have been two.

Liverpool substitute - Origi replaces Henderson. Lallana will most likely drop to central midfield and try to bring his energy to that area.

60 Min Update | The game has really opened up and one of the keys to that is Manchester City have found a way to get Silva and De Bruyne more involved. Liverpool are still looking dangerous despite having few chances to extend their lead. City, however, have been opening up Liverpool that little bit easier and it could be only a matter of minutes before we have out next goal - who scores it is anyone's guess! 

Min 60 | De Bruyne looks to chip one back towards the danger area but it is cleared. This is more end-to-end than an NBA game at the moment.

Min 59 | A decent break involving Silva and Sterling is broken down when Klavan gets a foot to a cross looking for Aguero. Close call for Liverpool. City far more lively now. 

Min 57 | Sterling is reaching for a high and long pass and he can't quite reach it. Mignolet happily waves it away.

Min 55 | Having said that, City need just one chance and David Silva proves that. He cuts inside and lets fly from 30 yards out with his left foot but it goes narrowly wide. Liverpool can not take their eyes off the prize here for a solitary second.

Min 54 | The game has opened up but it looks like Liveprool are far more comfortable at the moment with the open expansive way this is going.

Min 52 | That Liverpool press again. Firmino robs Kolarov this time and puts Mane through but he can only win a throw that results in nothing.

Min 48 | Our old friend Pawson has a word with both Lallana and Kolarov as they take part in some extra curricular activities on the sideline.

Min 46 | Clyne with a chance to make it two from a Firmino cross but the ball won't sit down for him and he can't get the shot on target. City opened up again.

Min 46 | Gary Pawson, the referee, gets us underway again!

Liverpool have been by far the better side and could be more than one up were it not for a fractionally late pass by Firmino to set Lallana away for a second. 

They did get the first, however, when Lallana - involved, as always - found Wijnaldum with a lovelt cross that the Dutch midfielder met with full force and sent crashing to the back of Claudio Bravo's net. It had been all City prior to that but the visitors were shook after the goal.

They tried to set Aguero free a few times but their midfield, and attacking midfield, have been completely squeezed out by Klopp and his high-intensity pressing tactic that is being deployed so well by Firmino and co. It's all to play for but Pep will need to sprinkle some magic on hsi side if they are to stand a chance in turning this game around.

Min 45 + 1 | Milner and Sterling meet down by City's byline and they get tangled up. The result is a very unhappy Sterling squaring up to an equally bemused Milner and a free out to City. 

Min 43 | Yaya Toure gets the ball and both Lallana and Firmino descend on him. They win it back and break in a two-on-one but Firmino's pass is too late and Lallana is offside. So, so close to being two.

Min 42 | Really slack pass backwards by Firmino that is intercepted by De Bruyne. He makes his way towards the goal but his shot is blocked for a corner. Could have been a crucial mistake there by Liverpool's number 11.

Min 40 | Silva looking for a free for a late challenge by Clyne but it is borne more from frustration than a genuine belief that Clyne had actually fouled him. Liverpool totally negating De Bruyne and Silva.

Min 38 | Sterling again gets a ball down the wing, and this time he has some time on it. Enough time for the Liverpool fans to get a proper BOOO! in..

Min 36 | A Sterling cross collected easily by Mignolet as Man City look to have run out of ideas. Liverpool happy enough with their lead too.

Min 30 | Mignolet does his best Manuel Neuer impression as he flicks the ball over Aguero outside his box and clears to Milner. Calm goalkeeping.

30 Min Update | Manchester City continue to struggle after that early goal by Wijanldum. They had been enjoying plenaty of possession but failed to turn it into anything worth mentioning. Instead, Liverpool looked more dangerous in front of goal and have just recently started to dominate possession too. City are at sixes and sevens at the moment, a little bit.

Min 29 | Can with some time to think on the edge of the box after a pass from Lallana. He opts for the curling right-footed effort that almost dips in time, but doesn't make it. Good chance.

Min 28 | A lovely angled pass from Milner finds Firmino but the former Hoffenheim attacker can't bring it down. Lovely move, and Klopp agrees, as he applauds his side's effort.

Min 26 | Another high Liverpool press results in Kolarov panicking and kicking the ball up the field aimlessly. Klopp will be happy with this.

Min 23 | Firmino versus Sterling as the Brazilian tries to get around the English attacker. He manages to complete phase one of the test but meets Zabaleta and loses out. Zabaleta then proceeds to pass the ball out for a throw. 

Min 22 | Aguero takes a high ball down like an expert but he was offside. Brilliant control but the timing of the run needs work.

Min 20 | Stones looks for Sterling over the top for a former Merseysiders connection but it is too long and Sterling doesn't even bother to give chase.

Min 17 | Liverpool win a corner but it is cleared by City before they launch another attack but Lallana's touch lets him down and the ball goes out for a goal kick.

15 Minute Update | We got exactly what every big game needs - an early goal. City started quite well but were blown wide open with Liverpool's first half decent attack. Since then, the visitors have settled again but this time slightly more jittery as they are now aware as to how lethal Liverpool are on the break. 

Min 13 | City dominating again, but Liverpool won't mind as it has been mostly quite sterile possession. And they have the goal, obviously.

Min 11 | Aguero looking to respond for City with an outside of the boot effort but it doesn't have as much bend as the Argentine might like and it goes well wide.

Min 8 | GOAL! GOAL! GOAL! Lallana with a teasing cross and Wijnaldum headers it low and to Bravo's right. No chance with the speed of that header. What a start for the hosts.

Min 7 | Klavan booked for leaving his knee in Aguero's path. Just seconds after, he catches Fernandinho with a late attempt at the ball. No card this time though. 

Min 5 | Mignolet almost gets the ball stuck under his feet as he shovels a pass with his right out to Lovren. Liverpool unnecessarily inviting City onto them with that move.

Min 3 | City happy to throw it around at the back but do appear to be looking for Sterling to attack Milner down their right-hand side. Could be an interesting battle developing there over the next 45 minutes.

Min 1 | Former Manchester City player James Milner fouls former Liverpool player Raheem Sterling in a dangerous position. He got his elbow to close to Sterling's jaw as he tried to get his arm across him. Kolarov's free kick hits the wall and cleared by Liverpool.

Min 1 | After a rousing rendition of "You'll Never Walk Alone", we are underway thanks to a swift blast of Craig Pawson's whistle. Still the residue of the song drifting around the stadium! Let's go..

Liverpool – Manchester City: live

18:27 | Vincent Kompany in the stands tonight getting plenty of selfie requests. I am sure he would prefer to be out on the field and by the look on his face, that seems to be the case.

18:24 | Also, hardly a peep out of us about Anfield old boy, Raheem Sterling. I am sure he will receive a raucous welcome to Anfield tonight.

18:15 | We are approaching kick-off here and despite saying it a few times, a loss here for either side would surely crush any slim chance they have of catching Chelsea at the top.

18:00 | Former Reds Peter Crouch, Charlie Adam and Joe Allen couldn't do their old team any favours despite trying as Chelsea ran out 4-2 winnersagainst Stoke at Stamford Bridge to extend their winning run to a record 13 games (equalling joint-holders Sunderland, Arsenal and Preston North End). Conte's boys are nine points clear pending the result from Anfield.

17:53 | Having not featured for the first 11 games, or even being named in the squad, Yaya Toure has played in all seven of Manchester City's games. He started in five of them and the only two he didn't start in, the lost - 1-3 to Chelsea and 4-2 to Leicester.

17:48 | Both Klopp and Guardiola rejigging their midfields and quite sure that is where it will be won or lost.

17:39 | Meanwhile, Guardiola has thrown somewhat of a spanner in the works of all "probable line-ups" by including Yaya Toure against such a high intensity team as Liverpool. He has also drafted John Stones back into his eleven and starts Aguero despite him missing the last few games through suspension.

17:37 | We have out team news in. Nothing out of the ordinary from Klopp except from having Can, Henderson and Wijnaldum in midfield with Lallana pushing up to join Firmino and Mane. Sturridge does not start despite scoring against Stoke in their last game.

17:25 | The nuts and bolts of the article below suggest we are in for a tasty affair. The two managers have played each other eight times before with each one winning four. We have seen 22 goals in those eight games and never had a 0-0 draw. Exciting times ahead.

17:20 | Here is a tale of the rivalry between Guardiola and Klopp so far. It has been an exciting one, to say the least!

16:22 | Depending on the result today, Pep or Klopp might feel like spending some money in January to continue the chasing of Chelsea. Klopp, however, has ruled out completely a move for Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. 

Guardiola was coy about Isco recently after the Real Madrid midfielder shelved his contract renewal talks until the summer.

15:50 | Pep Guardiola and David Moyes were both spotted in the stands at Anfield to watch the Stoke game. The Spaniard said on the eve of the game: "Liverpool are contenders for the title, definitely. We have to equal their intensity - Anfield will play a big role tomorrow".

15:03 | Liverpool go into the game aiming to preserve their unbeaten home record - 23 games without defeat at Anfield.

14:30 | It's been a joyful Christmas for both teams so far - Liverpool thumped Stoke City in front of a sell-out crowd at Anfield on Tuesday and Guardiola's City came away with all three points and a 3-0 win away at Hull City on Boxing Day.

13:50 |  Pep Guardiola speaking about Manchester City's recent history 

13:45 | Jürgen Klopp reveals his key to winning tonight's game

13:30 | Liverpool won this fixture 3-0 in the last meeting on 2nd March with goals from Lallana, Milner and Firmino - all of whom should feature today.

A top billing clash between the teams who sit 2nd and 3rd in the Premier League sees us out of 2016. Liverpool and Manchester City will be keen to put their title aspirations to the fore in front on a sell-out Anfield crowd and thaw out a frosty afternoon on Merseyside. The two sides go into the game with almost identical results, both having won their last three games, and both will be keen to keep the pressure on leaders Chelsea who entertain Stoke earlier on Saturday eager to add to their impressive run of 12 consecutive wins.

Liverpool

Phillipe Coutinho remains sidelined for Liverpool but otherwise, Klopp has a full squad to select his XI. 

 Manchester City

Visiting coach Pep Guardiola has Sergio Agüero back from a four-match ban and John Stones returns after injury but is without centre-back Vincent Kompany and winger Leroy Sané.

Liverpool – Manchester City: Match build-up

City’s last win at Anfield was back in May 2003 and since then they have only come away with a point on four occasions, the Reds winning all of the rest of the most recent league meetings. Guardiola eluded to City's record at Anfield in his pre-match press conference while Klopp focused on keeping it tight at the back - his defence has looked sturdier in recent weeks, and seem to have learned their lesson from the the lack of concentration shown during the meetings with West Ham and Bornemouth earlier this month. As it stands, Liverpool lie second on 40 points and City are just below them in third with a point less. Neither has the chance of knocking Chelsea off top spot even if they lose at Stamford Bridge - the best Liverpool and City can hope for is to reduce the lead at the top where the Blues are six points clear.

Liverpool – Manchester City: possible line-ups

Liverpool: Mignolet; Clyne, Lovren, Klavan, Milner; Lallana, Henderson, Can, Firmino, Mané, Sturridge.

Manchester City: Bravo; Zabaleta, Otamendi, Kolarov, Clichy; Fernandinho, Fernando, De Bruyne, Sterling, Silva, Agüero.